Although he was born in Fresno, California, in 1875, Maynard Dixon spent much of his art career in Arizona (he died in Tucson in 1946). He made his...
Best of the West 2016: Firearms
Since its introduction in 1993, Ruger’s Vaquero single-action has ranked among the most popular of six-guns with cowboy action shooters and cowboy...
Salado Creek
San Jacinto didn’t end the fighting between Texas and Mexico. There were some skirmishes after April 1836. In March 1842, Mexican troops briefly...
Josephine Williams
Josephine Williams was born in the Sand Hills of Nebraska, went to nursing school in Chicago. She graduated from nursing school in 1903 just prior...
What does “waddie” mean?
What does “waddie” mean? Walt “Waddie” Clark Austin, Texas “Waddie” or “waddy” was originally a derogatory word for a thief or rustler, and the word...
Straight-armed at The OK Corral
The earliest known reference to football in Arizona is from George Parson’s Tombstone diary, dated January 12, 1882: “Grand foot ball racket this...
Best of the West 2016: Western Wear
By the time Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led the Corps of Discovery across North America from 1804 to 1806, the British, French and Spanish...
Billy the Kid’s Great Escape
Godfrey Gauss witnessed Billy the Kid escape the Lincoln County Jail on April 28, 1881. Gauss said Deputy J.W. Bell died in his arms after Billy...
Frontier Editors
Frontier editors are a hard group to stereotype. Some were torch carriers for justice, seekers of truth and champions of liberty; others were...
What is a cowboy?
What is a cowboy? Billy Murphy Las Cruces, New Mexico A cowboy is generally considered to be someone who tends cattle herds on North American...
Starry, Starry Fight
March 21, 1886 Hogtown is full of cowboys from surrounding Texas ranches at a baile (a gathering for dancing). After midnight, in the early minutes...
Charlie Bowdre’s Wardrobe Malfunction
Charlie Bowdre had the ultimate wardrobe malfunction. December 23, 1880. Pat Garrett and posse had Billy the Kid and gang trapped in a small...